Lubricating system



Aug. so, 1927. A 1,641,125

S. DAWSON LUBRICATING SYSTEM Filed Dc. 27, 1921 Patented Aug. 30,' 1927.

raient* "carica SIDNEY Dawson, cnroiie', inninbi's, s'sieivon, Bn' Dinner 4AND ivinsNE AssiGN- tienes,- ro nnwiiitn J. MORSE; or* cnicasoniiniivois.

' Lunnica'iiue sYsTnivi;

Applicationieaiiecember 27, 19,21. -seriai iro. 525,111.A

The invention relaties to .lubricating systems embodying afdevice vapplicable for association with a bearing to be lubricated,

' in which there are employed a cup or containeriior the lubricant and a plunger or piston in thecup. The cup isiiilled by means yoi" a grea'seigun- Orforcepuinp which isremovably lattached tothe piston rod or stem.

The piston and the vpiston .stein are designed l427,673, respectively. Y

lto permit.the. passage of lubricant therethroughinto thecup. The piston is moved bythe iniowing lubricant to a position from which. it isautomatically moved bythe action of a suitable spring and causes the discharge of the lubricant Jfrom the cup as the lubricant is consumedV at the bearing.. H

The device which is herein describedbears a relation to therstr'uctures shown and described in my copendinpf'` applications for patent which wereled December 2A 1920, and" given *Serial* Numbers 427,672 `and The present invention consists ofvarious details of construction which aid' in simplifying the' constructiomfwhich increases Ithe Y eiiiciency thereof, and which materially; re-

duce the cost of manufacturing thev device.

' It is an object of the invention `to provide a simple and permanent connection between the piston and the piston stem,i and to provide a valve adj acentA this connection between the piston and the piston stem, to' control the iiow of lubricant through' the stem. ltV is a further object ofvthe'invention to provide a device VofV this] character with a plunger orpiston having a peripheral flange and' having flange portions which areV mo'v able relatively to each other and relatively to theA remainder of the" piston A'so `that a close' fit and contact may be maintained between the Vpiston and the inner tace offtlie Wall of the lubricant container in'which the plunger or piston is vreciprocallymounted.

The' container is designed tobe drawn into form which consequently results in that an uneven or rough surface is produced7 which would permit the escape of some of the lubricant between the piston and the wall 'of the container. TheV peripheral flange and the relatively movable Harige portions ot the piston closely fitV against the inner face of the wall of the container and? compensate for theI uneven surface, and thereby prevent the escape ot ,the lubricant between the pisV ton and'the'cont'ainer. 1 1

, lit is afurtherobject to provide the containeig which` is formed of a ielatively'thin gagedinateriah, with a meanswhereby a valve may be associated therewith to regulate theV ,HowV of lubricant fromi the container' to the bearingL Because 'the threaded aperture in the bearing, with which the device listo be associated, i'SliSually `0f a, Standard difresion,` it isx obvious that the yconnecting portion of the lubricating device wherebylit isassociated with the bearing mus/t be ofthe'proper dimension'. rlherefore, due to the Yfact that the cup or 'container is drawnoi relatively thin materiaha space is producedin the 'terior of. this connectingportion which would not readily accommodate orpermit a valve ot simple construction to be associated therewith.- It is, therefore,l an, object to provide a suitable .element or plugY which is `cfapable of insertion into the interiorof 1this portion of the container, which willg'allow -tlie'association of a valve at this point tor vide means to permit the closure of thepcup or container to'be readily attached land de- .tached when required. Y, K l y A The inventionA will be more readily understood when'read in conjunction withthe accompanying drawings which illustrate one embodiment of the invention, it being` obvious that various changes and modifications may be employed without departing` 'from the spirit of thje invention as defined in the appended' claims forming a part liereoi.

ln' the drawings, i y Y .Figurel isa central section-of a lubricating device constructed according to the invent-ion, showing its attachment to the bearingito be lubricated; Y

.Finn 2 is an enlarged Adetailed sectional view of the piston and piston stem employed in the construction shown in Figi l;

Fig. 3 is an elevation of the lower end of the piston, the valve stem mounted therein being shown in section;

Fig. 4l is an enlarged detailed sectional view of the lower' end of the piston and piston stem, showing in detail a means of connecting the piston and stem together, and also showing the valve in the piston stem which controls the flow ofthe lubricant;

Fig. 5 is an elevation of the upper end of the lubricant container, showing a means which may be employed lfor connecting the closure for the container relatively thereto; and f Fig. 6 is a top or 'plan view ofL the valve stem which is mounted within the piston stem. Y

In the embodiment of the invention illustratedV in the drawings,"theuse of a piston threaded extension 13, iscontemplated'. The `threaded extension is provided to afforda -means for connecting the device to the bearing 14C to be lubrcated.` As shown in the drawings, the'upper end of the piston stem V1O'is provided with an enlargement 15, having the tapered transversely arranged recess 16. The recess 16 communicates with the 'passage 17 which connects the-recess 16 with the passage 18. They valve generally designated 19 controls the flow of lubricant'from the passages 16, 17 and 18 into the interior of the cup 12 and also prevents the return ofv theplubricant into these passages during the period in which the lubricantl is being discharged fromv the cup 12 land fedto -the bearing 14. The tapered Arecess 16 Vis provided to permit the connection 'of thetape'red end of a suitablevgrease gun 20, which when inserted inthe .recess and operated,

forces the lubricant through the/passages 16, 17 and'18 and into the cup. `r

f A hood or cap21, simulating'a visor, is

provided to prevent the introduction of dirt and dust into the vinterior of both the piston 'stem' and the container. It is pivoted at 22 y to the enlarged en'd 15 to permit of its being moved to Yexpose and enclose the recess 16. The hood 21 is provided with arms 23. The arms 23 and the hood 21 'conform to .the shape of the sphericallend 15 of the'piston stem. The hood 21 is also provided with a jlnob or extension 24, which provides a y the container by means'of the removable cap or closure 25 having the extension 26, which provide a housing yfor the coiled expansion spring 27. rl`he spring 27 is arranged upon the piston stem so that one end Ybears milling on its exterior periphery and having a plurality of inward projections 29, which cooperate with the adjacent-end of the container12, which isprovided with a plurality of bayonet slots 30vinto which the plurality of projections 29 are passed and then rotated with respect'to the container which releasably locks the closure and the container to- The construction of the ends of.

gether. the cup and closure therefor and the' slots and projections is clearly illustrated in Figs. 1 and 5. 1t will be notedthat a portion of Ythe bayonet slot is providedA with the inclined surface 31, which acts as ya cam to hold the closure andthe container against accidental separation.

VThe opposite end of the cup 12 is provided with Vthe threaded `extension 13. The aperture provided in the bearing with which this portion is designed. to cooperate is usually of-a standard dimension, and, as the container is formed of relatively thin gaged metal', the interior dimension of the threaded portion 13 will-be relatively large, which might prevent theeflicient application of 'a means for controlling thel flow of lubricant therethroughw Toy vcompensate for this, aV plug 32'is employed, which preferably convforms to the shape'of the interior of the vthreaded portion.

As 'shown' inthe drawings, the plug 32 is flared at its upper endand is provided with the passage 33, which terminates at its .upper end in a` tapered recess 341-. A valve 35 is in threaded engagement with the plug 32 and the material forming the extension 13. YThe valve 35l is arranged transversely to the `passage 33 and' may be manipulated to vary the dimension of the passage 33 ad- `iacent `the valve 35, thereby regulating the flow of lubricant from the container 12 through the passages in the plug 32, eXtension 13, and into the bearing 14.

It is manifest vthat as the `lubricant, is forced by Ameans of the grease gun 20 through the passages 17 and 18, the valve generally designated 19, carried by the lower end of the piston stem 10, becomes unvseated, which permits'the lubricant to enter the lubricant cup or container 12 below the piston 11, the lubricant being simultaneously fed to the bearing. The resistance offered by the lubricant in the bearing causes the piston to be moved upwardly in the container 12, against the laction of the coiled' rea-inist Y providel one part or' thewalve ge'ne'rally designated 19. The Vpistonis also Yconst'ructed soy that the periphery thereofV may expand and produce a close tt-ing contact between ,it and the inner tace of the container 12,

which due to the fact that it is formed by being drawn into shape, produces irregularitiesqand unevenneseesV which would ordinarily provide a space between the piston and the container between which the lubri- Cantmight esca1 e and `find its way above the piston7 whicv wouldeventually become packed with lubricant at this point and prevent the proper operation of the device. To compensate for this and in order Vto maintain a close fitting connection between the piston and the container, and thereby prevent the l escape of the lubricant, the lower portion ot' the piston is provided with a plurality of separated relatively movable portions 36,

Vwhich are formed by severing the material forming the piston at suitable intervals by means of the plurality of slots 37. The slots 37, extend upwardly from the lower edgeof the flange 3S and terminate a suitable. distance below the juncture lofthe curved and vertical portions 39 and `138, respectively, of the piston 11. This structure producesA a piston having portions which may expand or contract relatively to each ,other and also provides a portion 38 will providea continuous cylindrical surface intended to contact with the inner face 'of the' container wall.v 'i

, The metallic piston'1l isfurther formed `is produce the depressed pornos lo ma which-the lower end ofthe'pistonstem 10fis adapted to be arranged. A reenforcing collar 41 is positioned between the piston 11 and the shoulder 42 provided by the cutting away of a portion of the end of the piston stemv "10. The reenforcing collar adds strength to the piston and preventsits collapsing when pressurevis applied to it, or by it, to the lubricant when acting to eject it of indentations 44, which enter the annular recess 43 provided in the lower end of the pistonstem 10.

The lower or bottom wall of the recess is` provided with an aperture 45 and the which as yet has notl had the dat enlarged of the springl VbearQ radially extending slots 46, through which the lubricant may pass from the passages 1n the piston stein into the container' as it is 'forcedtherethrough'by means of the pressureexert'ed thereon upon the connectionand operation of the grease gun 20.

` rIlhe 'valve' generally designated 19 1n'- cludes astem 47, which has formed integrally with it, and at oneend of it, the disc portion 4S. A washer 49 is arranged on the stem and is seated between the disc portion 48l and the lower or bottom wall of the Vre'- cess 4'0'of the piston. This disc portion 48 and the washer 49 are arranged adjacent the lower wall of the` recessed portion 40 of the piston 11', so that'they may normally close the aperture 45 and the radial slots 46 and prevent the escape of the lubricant from the container back into the piston stem, yet are operable upon actuation to permit tlieV flow of the lubricant from the piston `stem into the'container 12, through the space then afforded between the valve 49 and the lower wall of the recessed portion 40. Y

The coiled spring 50i`is arranged upon the stem 47 and reacts between the bottoni wall of the recess 40 and the enlarged portion 5l of the stem 47.y maintaining the valve 49 against the opposite side of thebottom wall J ofthe recess and normally 'reeping .the aperture 45 and the slots 46 closed. rlhe operation of the valve structure generally designated 19 permits the flow of lubricant into the container. 12, yet prevents its flow in the opposite direction. Y

The lubricating device is assembled in JT 1113 following manneiz The valve stem i portion` 51 formed, is linserted into 'the Wahe' 49- The Stem iS then inserted into 5*' the aperture 45 in' the bottom wall of the recessed portion 40 of the piston 11. The spring 50 is placed over the stem 47 which protrudes through the pistonr 11.` One end Y A v ,s `against the bottom oit the recess 40. The spring 50 is then compressed to permit the formation of the flat portion 51 by any suitable tool. After the formation of the portion 51, compression of thespring is released and the spring` then is in' position to react between the bottoni of the recess 40 and the flat portion 51. The piston stem 10 is inserted in the closure 25 with its extension 26. The spring 27 is placed around the portion of the piston stem opposite-the enlarged portion 15. One end of the spring` 27 bears against the end of the extension 26. The reenforcing collar 41 is then positioned on the piston stem l0, against the the shoulder 42 and against the other end of the spring 27, and compresses the spring. The stein 47, with its portion 51 and the spring 50, are then inserted into the passage 18. The associated piston 11 follows and the end of iol) lll!

the piston stem l0, having the circumferential groove 43, is fitted into the recessed portione() of the piston. Thereupon, the pressure punch is yapplied tothe recess Wall 40, the indentations 44 are made and theV piston 1l is secured to the piston stem. [The cap 2l is secured in place and the device is ready for use. K

Having thus described the invention, What .I claim and desire to cover by Letters Patent is: i

l. In a lubricating device, the combination of a. lubricant container, 'a piston arranged in the container, said piston having a recessed portion, a piston stein, said piston stem having a passa-ge through Which the lubricant is passed into the container, a valve structure arranged in the recessed portion of the piston, a portion ot said valve structure being adapted to be Y passed through the piston, said valve structure being provided With means toretain it in clooperative relation in said piston and piston stemsaid means consisting-'ot a valve stem having a valve at one end thereof on one side 'of the recessed portion oi the piston, and a head at the'other end thereof on the opposite side of the recessed portion of the piston and Within said piston stem, and a spring coacting` between said piston and said head 2. In a lubricating device, the combination of a lubricant container, a piston arranged in the container, said piston being formed With a recessed portion having an aperture in the bottom of said recessed portion, a piston stem, saidpiston stem having a passage throughwhich the lubricant is passed into the container, a valve stem in said aperture, Which valve stem extends into said piston stem passage, said valve stem being provided at one end With alvalve' and at the other end With a head, said valve being arranged on one side of said recessed portion and said head being arranged on the opposite side of said recessed portion and Within said passage, and a spring coacting With said head and tllebottom Wall ofthe recessed portion to close said valve and prevent return of the lubricant from said containerto said passage.

3. In a lubricating device, the combination offa lubricant'container, a piston arranged in the container, said piston being formed with a recessed portion having a centrallyarranged aperture and a plurality i of slots radiating from said aperture inA the bottom of lsaid Irecessed portion, a piston stein, said pistonlstem having a passage through which the lubricant is passed into the container, a valvestem in said aperture,

Which valve stem eXtends into said piston stem passage, said valve steln being provided at one end With a valve and at the other end With an integral enlarged `portion, said valve being arranged on one side of said recessed portion and said integral enlarged portion being arranged on the opposite side of said recessed portion and Withinsaid passage, and a coiled spring-coacting With said integral enlargedportion and the bottoni Wall of the recessed portion'to close said valve and prevent return o `the lubricant 'from said container to said 'passto permit the introduction of lubricant to the container `upon the passage of lubricant through the tubular stem of said piston.

In VWitness whereof, I have hereunto subscribed myname this 22nd day of November, A. lD., 1,921. v

' 'SIDNEY DAWSON. 

